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House Wants Cell Phone Owners Warned of Tracking Software

Jan 30, 2012, 3:13 PM by Eric M. Zeman

A new bill being introduced by Massachusetts Representative Ed Markey would require cell phone makers and network operators to inform consumers about any location-tracking or information-sharing software/services that are installed on the device. "Consumers have the right to know and to say no to the presence of software on their mobile devices that can collect and transmit their personal and sensitive information," said Markey. "While consumers rely on their phones, their phones relay all sorts of information about them, often without their knowledge or consent. I am concerned about the threat to consumers’ privacy posed by electronic monitoring software on mobile phones. Today I am releasing draft legislation to provide greater transparency into the transmission of consumers’ personal information and empower consumers to say no to such transmission." The Mobile Device Privacy Act covers a wide range of scenarios and demands that customers be informed about what software is on board, what information it collects, to which entity it sends that information, and requires that the receiving entities store the information securely.

Rep. Ed Markey »
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This forum is closed.

Globhead

Jan 30, 2012, 6:03 PM

How about the ability to REMOVE software we don't want?

The carriers should not be installing permanent software which is not necessary for the service we are buying.

Kenzin

I would honestly trade a portion of privacy for the ability to remove bloatware without risking my warranty! Well said!

T Bone

Then don't buy carrier equipment....pay full retail for unlocked phones that are not carrier branded....but if you carrier equipment, you do it on THEIR terms, that's just the way it is.

...

planethulk

Jan 30, 2012, 4:58 PM

How 'bout we just don't get tracked?

Wow there's this little thing called privacy that we used to value here in America. Now, I'm sure some of you are saying "Oh but we MUST have all these trackers so we can be safe". I'm here to tell you, there are no Iranians going to jump from out from under our beds just because my cell phone isn't being tracked. However, if things like these are allowed to continue, we WILL see the Feds kicking in our door based on what we surf or what products we buy.

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